Kalitta won the 1989 NHRA Winternationals, most notable for the fact that the win included him becoming the first ever Top Fuel driver (any sanctioning series) to hit 290 mph (470 km/h). [2] Kalitta ultimately won a total of 10 NHRA national events, including the 1994 Gatornationals and U.S. Nationals - his final title.

Driving a Top Fuel dragster adorned with “The Bounty Hunter” livery, Kalitta was a threat to win every time he eased up to the starting line. Kalitta set the world speed record on multiple occasions and won three championships in other sanctioning bodies during his driving career.

Founded by team owner Conrad “Connie” Kalitta in 1959, Kalitta Motorsports fields two Top Fuel dragsters driven by 2023 NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta and 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon as well as a Funny Car driven by 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd. Located in Ypsilanti, Mich., the team owns five World Championships ...

Home of the 2023 Top Fuel Champ Doug Kalitta; Connie Kalitta; Drivers. Doug Kalitta Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster; Shawn Langdon; Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster; J.R. Todd; DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car; Scott Kalitta; Teams. Mac Tools TF Dragster;

In 1967, he became the only Top Fuel driver to have won every major drag racing associations' season-opening event by winning Winter Nationals staged by AHRA, NHRA and NASCAR. Kalitta used the proceeds from those victories to buy his first airplane. That purchase marked a …

May 5, 1994 · Look who’s leading the National Hot Rod Assn. top fuel standings--Connie Kalitta, the old Bounty Hunter from Ypsilanti, Mich. Kalitta has been racing dragsters, off and on, for more than...

Feb 28, 2018 · Kalitta was infamously known as “The Bounty Hunter” during his own days as a drag racer, making his Top Fuel dragster one of the most aggressive, innovative – and most importantly – feared rails in the sport.

Jul 12, 2024 · His car, powered by the exotic for the time 427 Ford Cammer engine set the national records for NHRA and NASCAR top fuel over the span of these races. This video looks at not only the streak...

Jan 3, 2025 · Becoming the only Top Fuel driver to win every major drag racing association’s season-opening event in 1967. Securing multiple NHRA national event wins, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1994. Being ranked #21 on …

Aug 22, 2024 · DHL has been a longtime sponsor of Kalitta Motorsports’ Funny Cars and Top Fuel dragsters. A native of Mount Clemens, Mich., Kalitta began his aviation empire in 1967, ferrying small, but significant parts overnight to automakers – a job other companies declined.